Chapter One

"Miku!" shouts a voice across the mall, "We're here!" I turn around to see Gumi running up toward me, followed by Luka and Rin, my best friends. We had planned to meet up here to discuss something "super-duper important", as Gumi had called it. Luka and Rin had both agreed, saying I had to make it today. I notice the shopping bags in all three of their hands.

"And you went shopping without me?" I ask, eyes widening. I shake my head in silliness.

"Yeah," Luka giggles, "Well, everyone except Rin- she's just holding my extra bags." I scoff.

"It's torture," Rin groans, shoving two of the bags into my arms.

Meet my best friends. First, there's Rin. Rin isn't typically the type to want to be seen out in public holding anything other than a soccer ball, let alone actually go shopping with Luka and Gumi. Luka, my friend since childhood, loves fashion of all sorts. She even looks like a model, which is good since she's always either around or on a runway. Gumi, my friend since a middle school science project, is geeky and wild, but totally prone to mood changes at any time. She's a complete animal freak, and has eight pets in her huge house. I… I guess I'm just normal. But then again, Rin, Luka, and even Gumi all probably think that they're normal too.

"Come on, let's go to the food court already," Rin says, happy to have some of the load off her shoulders.

"Why? So you can see Len again?" Luka asks playfully, only to earn her a smack in the arm.

"No!" Rin retorts, "He's just… We're… I'm hungry, that's all!" Gumi, Luka and I all exchange an amused glance, knowing that Rin's obviously lying. Rin yanks on the strings of her yellow hoodie and scowls. Gumi giggles.

"Oh, love is a science I'll never understand," she sighs dreamily, reaching up to adjust her pink goggles.

"I'm not in love," Rin growls under her breath, shuffling her feet across the tile floor as we make our way to the food court.

"It's not right to deny it," Luka giggles, "Besides, the sooner you admit it, the sooner I can get to work on the dress that he's going to love you in."

"Dress?" Rin shrieks, her face going pale. Gumi, Luka and I all laugh. You don't have to know Rin well to know that she disgusts skirts and dresses. She once wore her gym shorts to prom, mind you.

We continue our lighthearted chatter as we flounce through the food court to get to our favorite frozen yogurt shop- Miraka. Of course, we catch the eyes of many people walking around us. Luka, Gumi, Rin and I are pretty well known around here for our different areas of expertise. Luka is famous for her beauty, and for being a fashion icon. Gumi is well-known for winning just about every science fair or academic award in the world. Rin is legendary for her endless shelf of sports trophies. I am known for… well… it's probably my voice. Sure, I'm not completely famous, but I've recorded a couple songs.

Followed by Luka, Gumi and I, Rin shyly walks up to the front counter of Miraka. Len perks up as soon as he sees her. A bright smile comes across his fresh, attractive face as a light blush falls over his cheeks. "H-hi, Rin, and um, ladies. What would you like… to order?" he stammers timidly. Luka nudges Rin in the ribs. She lets out an uncomfortable squeal as she's nudged forward by Gumi.

"Um, I'd like a… um, small orange sherbet," Rin mumbles, looking down and blushing to herself. With a flick of his head, Len tosses his shaggy blonde hair away from his face. Rin's blush deepens as she sinks into awkwardness.

"Small orange sherbet," Len calls to Kaito. Kaito is my childhood friend. We sort of drifted away from each other, though, after middle school, when he stopped talking to me. I'm still not sure why he avoids me all the time. He doesn't even seem to want to take my order anymore. "What about you, Miku?" Len says with a grin, interrupting my thoughts.

"Oh, um, I'll order Vanilla, I guess," I say casually. Len shakes his head at me playfully.

"You know, you're free to try another flavor. You don't have to get vanilla all the time," he laughs, wiping down a spot on the black granite counter. "Unless that's what you like," he chuckles, leaning against the counter. I raise an eyebrow at him teasingly. "I'm guessing you want a small?" he asks coolly. I nod my head. "Got that Kaito? One small vanilla!" he calls to the back.

"Why, If it isn't Gumi Megpoid," Len says with a teasing shake of his head. His blonde hair shakes around him as he does so.

"You're never going to let me forget that, are you?!" Gumi nearly screams, clenching her fists. Len chuckles. By the look on my friend's faces, I don't think that anybody knows what happened between them.

"Oh, Gumi," Len sighs with a laugh, "Just order already."

"What the heck?!" Gumi rants, "You were the one who was keeping me-"

"A medium Neapolitan with chopped up carrot pieces on the side?" Len asks, already knowing her order. Gumi quits yelling and crosses her arms in defeat. She lets out a dissatisfied humph. "Who eats that stuff, anyway?" Len laughs.

"I like to put them in myself," Gumi growls, looking away with her nose in the air. Len gives her a quizzical look.

"Alright, Kaito, Gumi just ordered!" Len shouts. Apparently, Kaito has Gumi's order memorized too. Len turns back to our group.

"Oh, hey Luka," he smiles gratefully as if he had just received a gift. Rin looks down enviously, her expression hardening. "Uh, what would like? A medium strawberry with chocolate chips?" he asks.

"Actually, I'll have a small," Luka decides graciously.

"Why the sudden change?" Len asks interestedly, his eyebrows raising.

"Well, if you had to know, I'm doing another show on Friday," Luka says. Len shrugs nonchalantly.

"Oh, okay, cool," he nods. "I'll make sure to make it," he adds. "One small strawberry with chocolate chips!" he calls to Kaito.

Kaito comes out with Rin and Gumi's orders. Our eyes make contact for what seems to be the lamest excuse for a split second, yet he still turns away embarrassedly. Am I really that… intimidating? My own childhood friend can't even look at me anymore. I finger my teal twin tails. I can't look that scary, can I? Maybe it's for another reason… Whatever it is, he's driving me crazy trying to hide it. "Here, Rin and Gumi. Enjoy. I'll be out with yours and Miku's," he says to Luka.

"Enjoy, you guys," he says with a light smile to everyone except me, once he has brought our frozen yogurt to the counter. Len nods in agreement. I take mine, along with the rest of my friends, and we make our way over to the four-seated table in the middle of the food court.

Once we're seated, I bite my lip and dig my spoon into my small vanilla. "How come he knows your order and not mine?" Rin scowls, glaring at Gumi. Gumi cackles evilly. Rin rolls her eyes in disbelief and shoves her sherbet into her mouth.

"Just be glad he doesn't question you about yours," Luka laughs.

"How do you even eat all that stuff and not get fat?" Gumi asks, "It goes against every single rule of physics I've ever heard of!"

"Relax, as long as you're not fat!" Luka says, pointing to Gumi with her spoon. Gumi scoffs, playing with the tiny amount of fat hanging off her arm.

"And all the carrot cake you eat," Rin adds, "Shame, shame, shame."

"Speaking of cake, Miku, your birthday is this Friday!" Luka smiles.

"Oh, I haven't noticed," I say sarcastically, rolling my eyes and giggling, taking a bite of my vanilla frozen yogurt.

"Hey, sorry," Luka retorts, throwing her hands up defensively in the air, "It's not my fault you're so quiet about it."

"I am not," I argue, finishing off the last of it.

"Wow, you ate that fast. Hopefully the cake doesn't turn out the same way," Luka sings. Gumi and Rin laugh.

"Just to clear things up," Gumi says, "It will be carrot cake, correct?" she asks. I scoff and shake my head.

"Your obsession is obviously really unhealthy. You know what, for my birthday, I don't even want cake," I declare.

"Then what do you want?" Rin asks inquiringly. I take a moment to think.

"Something huge. And I mean huge," I joke. However, I don't think the others know I'm joking…

"Let's throw her a party… with science!" Gumi gasps, her emerald eyes lighting up in a way that kind of scares me.

"No way. Let's all just play a game of soccer. I'm not one for big parties," Rin shrugs. I open my mouth to object, only to be cut off.

"Nuh-uh," Luka says, "This is Miku's party. She said she wanted something huge, so let's give her what she wants."

"Actually-"

"Let's take her on a vacation! All four of us!" Luka smiles. Everyone around the table considers the idea. Gumi nods, a smile on her face. Rin bites her lip and raises her eyebrows quickly as if to say why not? I, for once, don't disagree.

"I was actually kidding when I said I wanted a big party, but if you really want to, that sounds really fun!" I beam, tossing my teal twin tails behind my back.

"Oh," Luka giggles apologetically, "Wait!" she suddenly calls, "Your birthday conflicts with my fashion show this Friday!" she sighs, resting her head on her hand. Rin, Gumi and I exchange a glance.

"Where is it this time?" Rin asks in a monotone voice.

"Paris," Luka responds bleakly.

"Paris? You mean, the city of love?" Rin asks, tilting her head. Luka nods. Rin makes a gagging noise and brings her hand to her throat.

"Relax, Rin," Gumi says, "That's probably just an overcapitalized stereotype that's labeled about Paris. Chances are it's not true."

"Besides, you can go with Lenny-chan," Luka teases. Rin turns so red that she could easily challenge the strawberry chunks in Luka's frozen yogurt.

"For the last time, I do not like Len!" Rin shouts, slamming her spoon down in her sherbet. Everyone raises their eyebrows.

"Speak of the devil," Gumi mumbles cynically. Everyone turns to see Len standing in front of our table, his face bright red. Rin blinks, her jaw dropping.

"I-I didn't mean it like that… I swear!" she splutters. She swears under her breath.

"No, it's okay. I uh, I get it," Len shrugs, "I was just checking to see if everything was going okay, you know," he mumbles, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Len, I'm sorry," Rin cries, clinging to her cropped golden hair. "I really didn't mean it like that. It's not what you think."

"No, I know. But um, I should probably, um, go now," Len says, rushing off.

"Len-kun! Wait!" Rin calls. Len turns around, his blonde hair flying around him. Their blue eyes gaze intently into each other's. "Uh, could you maybe um…" Rin stutters, shaking her head slightly, "Could you bring us a napkin, please?" Rin frowns.

"What were you really going to say?" Gumi asks, once he's gone.

"I was going to ask him if he wanted to go to Paris with us, but we still don't have Miku's input on the whole vacation," Rin sighs. She suddenly turns her attention toward me. "Miku? Do you want to go?" she asks.

"Is Gumi's carrot cake obsession unhealthy?" I ask.

"Aw, that's too bad," Gumi cuts in, "I guess we're not going!" she sings.

"Gumi, shut up, of course we are," Luka scoffs, flipping her long pink tresses. Gumi frowns, and then smiles despite the unintentional insult.

"Great!" I smile. Rin, Gumi and Luka all catch onto my cute grin, and we all put our hands into the center of the table like we did as kids. "For my Sweet, Sweet Sixteen?" I ask, starting the movement.

"For your Sweet, Sweet Sixteen!" they all echo with giggles, throwing their hands up into the air.

"Uh, ladies, I have your napkins," Len says. There goes the blushing again.


-A/N-

Hooray! (This is where you clap for me for writing a new story!) I've finally gotten over VA, and I've decided to start two new stories, Sweet, Sweet Sixteen, and another one called Mirrors Don't Lie. I'm not quite sure when that one'll be uploaded, but don't worry- soon. I seriously love the characters I've created, and hopefully, they'll come out more later in the story! Also, more Kaito, Gakupo, and Piko coming up! ;)